Indian Community Unites in Celebration of Independence Day in NZ

Members of New Zealand’s Indian community gathered to celebrate India’s 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2023. Events took place across multiple cities, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Palmerston North, featuring flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural presentations, and performances that showcased the rich heritage of India.

At the Indian High Commission in Wellington, High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan hoisted the Indian National Flag and read excerpts from the annual address of Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Over 400 attendees enjoyed patriotic songs and cultural performances by students from the Wellington Hindi School and Khandallah School. Performances by the Shivam Dance Academy, Sri Chakra School of Fine Arts, and the Wellington Marathi Association added to the festive atmosphere.

In Auckland, the celebrations were led by Madan Mohan Sethi, India’s Consulate General. He congratulated the community on the occasion and noted that a new era of friendship between New Zealand and India has begun. The President of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, Veer Khar, emphasized the importance of unity within the community, which is now the third largest in New Zealand, and called for increased political representation.

Current Members of Parliament of Indian origin, Priyanca Radhakrishnan of the Labour Party and Parmjeet Parmar of the ACT Party, reflected on their cultural roots during the celebrations. “Today we celebrate the value of democracy—something worth fighting for,” Radhakrishnan stated. Parmar added, “For me and my family, both India and New Zealand are home.”

In Whangārei, Mayor Vince Cocurullo attended the Auckland event at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre and expressed his eagerness to host part of the celebrations in his district next week. The Whangārei District Council, in collaboration with the Indian Consulate, will hold a business meeting and culinary showcase on August 18.

With the recent establishment of the Indian Consulate General in Auckland, this year’s Independence Day celebrations have expanded significantly. “This year, we are organising a multi-city, multi-day Indian festival titled ‘The World and Us,’ bringing together shared values of culture, cuisine, and commerce between India and New Zealand,” Sethi informed RNZ last month. The festivities are set to run from August 15 to 18, with events planned in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton, and Whangārei.

The Indian High Commission in Wellington and the Consulate General in Auckland collaborated with various community organisations, including the Waikato Indian Association and the Northland Indian Association, to orchestrate the events.

Further enhancing the celebrations, an Indian food festival commenced in Auckland’s North Shore on the same day, featuring renowned chefs from India. Chefs Satyanarayana Pandari and Anuj Mathur prepared signature dishes such as Hyderabadi biryani and Bengali fish curry for invited guests. Culinary educators from India, Prem Ram and Suprabhat Banerjee, highlighted the potential for strengthening food diplomacy between the two nations, noting, “Indian cuisine is so diverse it can be combined with any other cuisine of the world.”

On Saturday, local chefs will participate in a friendly Masterchef competition that includes a mystery box challenge. Additional cultural events are scheduled, including a cultural evening led by one of India’s top singers, Shibani Kashyap, at Auckland’s Dew Drop Events Centre on August 16 and at Hamilton’s Waikato Indian Association Hall on August 17. These events will also feature a collaboration between Māori and Indian cultures, with a cross-cultural fashion show curated by the Whiria Collective and India’s CD Foundation.

The celebrations reflect a vibrant community spirit while fostering connections between India and New Zealand, marking a meaningful observance of India’s independence and cultural identity.